Denver boxer Manny Perez used a persistent and strong left hook to upset Puerto Rico’s Edgar Santana by unanimous decision in a nationally-televised junior welterweight bout Friday in Dover, Del.

Perez (18-7-1) traded early rounds with the taller Santana (26-4), who was favored to win the co-main event on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights.” But Perez, who fought Brandon Rios to a draw in Denver in 2009, stayed on the attack against Santana and was the aggressor for much of the bout.

All three judges gave Perez a 96-94 decision. Perez had a 197-193 advantage in punches landed.

Perez fights out of the House of Pain gym in Denver with manager Steve Mestas, and he has been training with Jake Ramos at Grudge Training Center in Wheat Ridge.

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